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Coronavirus Ireland

After being sent home to await the results of the tests, Tayah's parents received a call to get her straight back to hospital.

The family was told infection markers in Tayah's blood were showing up at 175, compared with a normal reading between zero and eight.

"We took her straight back up and they got her on an IV antibiotic drip," said Shannon, who had been self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19 before her daughter fell ill.

"As the days progressed, she became swollen and came out in a rash. She got strawberry tongue."

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With her infection markers still rising, Shannon and husband Alex, 31, were told that Tayah was suffering from a Kawasaki-like syndrome which is being linked to coronavirus.

While Tayah had no direct symptoms of coronavirus, and two tests for Covid-19 came back negative, Shannon, a key worker in a nursing home, thinks it was her illness that affected her daughter in a different way.

Experts have already warned about the 'Kawasaki-like syndrome' affecting children and it's now been revealed that up to 100 children have been treated in hospital with symptoms including a rash and swollen glands, whereas others have become seriously ill and needed intensive care treatment.

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On Thursday morning it was reported that a 14-year-old boy, with no underlying health conditions, had died from the rare condition in London.

While stressing how rare it is for coronavirus to affect children, Professor Russell Viner, president of the College of Paediatrics and Child Health, told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme: "This is a new syndrome - it appears to be happening mostly after coronavirus infection. We believe it's where the body's immune system overreacts to coronavirus."

After being treated with antibodies, Tayah was transferred to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital where she had a heart scan and is still undergoing treatment.

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"They carried on treatments with steroids," said Shannon, from Stalybridge. "She is still unwell, but her infection markers are coming down and doctors are pleased so far.

"I can’t thank Manchester enough, they have been brilliant since we arrived."

Shannon, also mum to eight-year-old Brooke, decided to share her family's ordeal on social media as a warning to other parents.

She said: "I did the post to make other parents aware of how horrible this disease actually is.

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"It’s more worrying for a parent because this disease is something most people have never heard of, or know much about."

She added: "After lots of cannulas fitted, having to go to theatre to have a line fitted, X-rays and numerous blood tests, I never want to see another parent go through what we have been through this past week."

And the mum-of-two has criticised the government's plan to reopen schools to certain year groups from June 1, saying it is putting more people at risk.

"I am appalled that the government are even considering children going back to," she said.

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"I tested positive to Covid-19 four weeks previous. It took a while for Tayah's symptoms to progress. I think the government needs to look more closely into our country and see what else is happening around us."

Dr Liz Whittaker, from Imperial College, who is part of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health expert group on this condition, said: "This is an extremely rare condition. It's hard to put an exact figure on the number of cases but we may have a better idea next week.

"At the moment, we think there may be between 75 and a hundred cases. The cases range from children who are very unwell and in intensive care to children who are well again and home with their families but who will be carefully monitored."

The government yesterday defended its plan to reopen schools from June, saying it is acting on 'medical and scientific advice'.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: "When you have medical and scientific advice that is saying it’s the right time to start bringing schools back in a phased and controlled manner, it seems only the right thing to do and the only responsible thing to do.”

He added: "The reason we’re bringing schools back is we know that children benefit from being educated by their brilliant teachers in front of them.

“We recognise children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds are the ones who are going to suffer the most if we do not bring schools back when we’re able to do so."